Lamine Yamal opens up on family’s immigrant struggles and his journey to success

Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal has paid tribute to his family’s resilience, recounting the sacrifices made by his grandmother and mother in their journey from Africa to Spain.

In an interview with journalist José Ramón de la Morena on Resonancia de Corazón, the 18-year-old winger revealed how his grandmother undertook a perilous trip from Morocco to Mataró, Catalonia, before laying the foundation for the family’s new life.

“My grandmother sneaked onto a bus from Morocco and made it to Mataró. She worked three shifts so my father could join, as he had stayed behind in Morocco. Eventually, she paid a woman to bring him and his sister over when they were just three years old,” Yamal recalled.

His mother, Sheila, also faced similar struggles after moving from Guinea to Barcelona with her own mother.

“My parents met in Barcelona, and we started out in a residence for young parents. It was basically a shared space with a dining hall,” he said.

Yamal described his early childhood as unstable, often marked by temporary living arrangements.

“We lived in friends’ houses, in single rooms, until my parents separated. My father went to live with my grandmother, while my mother and I stayed in Granollers.”

Now one of Europe’s most promising footballers, Yamal said his success has given him the opportunity to give back. “I asked my mother what neighborhood she wanted, and she chose the house herself. To me, she’s my queen, the person I love most.”

The teenager added that seeing his family comfortable is his greatest joy.

“My brother now has the childhood I wished for myself. My father and grandmother are finally able to relax. That’s everything I could ever want.”

Yamal has quickly become a key figure for both Barcelona and Spain, cementing his reputation as one of football’s brightest young talents.